TearLab Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment

TSO Katy has installed a TearLab® Osmolarity System and our staff has been fully trained on the use of this breakthrough technology. We are one of the first in the area to be able to provide TearLab testing for Dry Eye Disease (“DED”).

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye is one of the most under-diagnosed ocular diseases, and yet it is the most common reason why patients go see their eye care professional.

Dry eye occurs when eyes do not produce the right quantity or quality of tears. Women are more frequently affected than men, and it is often caused by hormonal changes due to aging and menopause or medical conditions.

Your eyes need a constant layer of tears – called the “tear film”- to maintain and protect the ocular surface. In Dry Eye, underlying changes to the health of the tear-producing glands can result in a change in the quantity and quality of the tears you make. This results in a tear film that can no longer provide enough nourishment or protection to the surface of your eye. This can lead to damage of your eye’s surface, which, in turn, can lead to the symptoms of Dry Eye.

Signs and symptoms of dry eyes may include: Stinging, burning, scratchy sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing, tired eyes, and difficulty wearing contact lenses, as well as Blurred vision, often worsening at the end of the day or after visually focusing for a prolonged period on a nearby task.

TearLab Treatment at Texas State Optical Katy

Tear osmolarity has been shown to have the best predictive value for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease of any single test. TearLab’s sophisticated lab on a chip technology tests a tiny tear sample to measure Osmolarity, or the salt content in the tears. The Doctor will test both eyes, and will take the highest number of the two tests, to generate Your Osmolarity Number. Your Osmolarity Number gives doctors a meaningful measure of the health and stability of the protective tear film that covers the surface of your eyes. The number generated correlates with the severity of the disease.

Dr. Virani has built a practice in Katy that is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care using advanced ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and treatments. Equipped with the TearLab Osomolarity System, we can now use quantitative data at the point of care to aid in the diagnosis of DED and to improve our ability to manage these patients.

We are OPEN for you!

Our top priority has always and continues to be the health and safety of our patients and staff. We are extremely committed to providing you with the safest and most dependable eye care service possible, even during this challenging time.

For the Protection of our patients and staff extra safety measures are being taken including:

Limited Appointment Scheduling - in order to ensure we are able to properly disinfect and adhere to Social Distancing Guidelines set forth by our local authority. Certainly, urgent and emergency patients will be prioritized.

Fever Free Environment - Temperatures will be taken upon entering the clinic of all patients. Anyone with 99.5 degrees or higher will be asked to reschedule. Anyone who is taking a fever-reducing medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen will be asked to reschedule once the medication is clear from their system so we can be sure of an accurate temperature reading.

Pre-Screening Questionnaire - We will continue to ask any patient with URI symptoms to reschedule their appointment until they have been asymptomatic for 3 days or have a negative COVID test.

Face Covering - We are requiring everyone entering our clinics to wear some type of facial covering such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief.

Wash hands and sanitize - Upon entering our clinic, everyone will be asked to sanitize their hands. Additionally, we will request they sanitize their hands before re-entering the business area.

All TSO staff with direct patient contact will be required to wear a mask.

Increase cleaning and sanitation of our frames, exam equipment, an all high-traffic areas before and after every patient.

Social Distancing - We are limiting the number of patients in our office and are asking, when possible, only the patient enters our clinics for their visit. Please ask the person with your patient to stay in their car. We can text them if they need their assistance.

We are continuing to help people see the important things in life, even during these difficult times for all of us.